Typically only 10% of the energy in one trophic level is passed on to the next. If the producers make 109 kcal of energy, how much energy will be available to the tertiary consumers?
Explanation
Answer: C, If the producers make 109 kcal of energy, 106 kcal of energy will be available for tertiary consumers. The tertiary consumers are three trophic levels up from the producers.
Key Takeaway: In an ecosystem, energy flows up from the producers up to the consumers. The primary consumers are those that feed directly on the producers. The secondary producers feed directly on the primary consumers, and so forth. Since the amount of energy available decreases with each increasing trophic level, the energy pyramid also serves as a biomass period that indicates the number of individuals on each trophic level.
